Strong vitality from the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program

Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang with Vietnamese tea products. (Photo: PV)

This information was confirmed at the Conference to evaluate the results of OCOP product development and rural tourism in the 2021-2025 period, with orientation for the 2026-2030 period, which took place on October 16.

Double effectiveness from two programs OCOP and rural tourism

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam assessed that the two above programs have been "awakening" indigenous cultural values and unique ecological landscapes of the countryside, creating a foundation for forming a "multi-value" rural economic ecosystem.

Specifically, implementing the Party's guidelines and the State's policies on rural development towards enhancing value and efficiency, in 2018, the Prime Minister approved the OCOP Program for the period 2018-2020 (Decision No. 490/QD-TTg). By 2022, the Government continued to approve the OCOP Program for the period 2021-2025 (Decision No. 919/QD-TTg) and the Rural Tourism Development Program (Decision No. 922/QD-TTg).

Delegates at the OCOP product booth at the conference.

These are considered key tasks to exploit the advantages of specialties, traditional products, culture and indigenous knowledge, contributing to the development of rural economy and sustainable new rural construction.

Since 2018, the OCOP program has created a strong change in both production scale and rural product development thinking. Statistics by September 2025 show that the whole country has nearly 17,400 products of more than 9,300 OCOP entities achieving 3 stars or more, an increase of more than 8,400 products compared to 2022, exceeding the assigned target. At the same time, more than 600 agricultural and rural tourism models are operating, an increase of 235 models compared to 2022.

The figures show that more than 60.7% of OCOP entities achieving 3 stars or more have an average revenue increase of 17.6%/year; 42.3% have expanded their labor scale; 40% of entities are female and 19.6% are ethnic minority groups in mountainous and disadvantaged areas.

OCOP Dong Thap product booth area at Vietnam Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, 489 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi.

OCOP products increasingly meet the requirements of quality standards, food safety, design and environmentally friendly packaging. The Vietnamese OCOP brand is not only affirmed domestically but has also begun to reach out to the international market, contributing to promoting the image of a dynamic, creative and integrated Vietnamese countryside.

According to Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, OCOP not only brings economic value but also promotes the transformation of production models, from small scale to value chain linkage; contributing to the formation of stable local raw material areas and promoting the rural startup movement.

The program has opened up new directions for livelihood development, especially in disadvantaged areas and among vulnerable groups such as women and ethnic minorities. In addition, models combining tourism experiences and OCOP product consumption are forming a new trend in rural development. Many localities have linked typical products with community tourism tours, creating additional income and jobs for people, while spreading the image of dynamic and creative Vietnamese countryside.

Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang.

Evaluating the program, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang stated that OCOP and rural tourism are two spearheads to promote the rural economy in the new period. Accordingly, upgrading OCOP products towards green-clean-smart is considered the key to expanding the market.

On that basis, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with ministries and branches to develop mechanisms and policies to support the development of OCOP products and rural tourism, focusing on the application of digital technology, traceability and bringing products to e-commerce platforms. The Ministry will also issue guidelines for developing the OCOP Program in line with the goals of building new rural areas and sustainable poverty reduction, while promoting trade promotion and bringing Vietnamese OCOP products to international fairs.

Implementation practice shows that OCOP is not just a story about products or brands, but a comprehensive rural development movement - from organizing production, improving community capacity, to preserving and promoting local cultural values. Thereby, each OCOP product not only bears the mark of a rural area, but also demonstrates the creative and self-reliant spirit of Vietnamese people on the path of integration.

OCOP has affirmed its brand and increasingly increased its value.

Finding OCOP breakthroughs in the 2026-2030 period

Entering the 2026-2030 period, according to the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the OCOP Program will shift its focus from quantity to quality, taking innovation and green development as the foundation.

At the same time, the Ministry also aims to strengthen the management capacity of OCOP entities, build regional brands and promote international cooperation. “For OCOP to develop sustainably, a new approach is needed, focusing on quality, cultural identity and the adaptability of products to the modern market. The ultimate goal is not just to achieve stars, but to build a Vietnamese brand with value, a story, and influence,” Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized.

Notably, in the period 2026-2030, OCOP products need to have more breakthroughs, towards sustainable development. This period will record many new contexts and requirements for the country's socio-economic development, especially the requirement to promote science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, private economic development; along with that are new requirements for green development, emission reduction to adapt to climate change... requiring new approaches, requirements and orientations to overcome the shortcomings and limitations in the development of OCOP products and rural tourism in the past time, contributing to enhancing the value, image and brand of OCOP, rural tourism in Vietnam.

OCOP increasingly affirms its brand and is trusted by the majority of consumers.

Previously, at the end of September 2025, the Mekong Delta OCOP Product Connection Forum 2025 attracted over 10,000 participants. At this forum, experts and delegates attending the Mekong Delta OCOP Product Connection Conference 2025 discussed and shared solutions and orientations to promote promotion activities, connect consumption of OCOP products in the domestic and export markets; signed a Memorandum of Understanding on business cooperation between OCOP entities and supermarkets, distributors, enterprises, etc.

It cannot be denied that many strategic partnerships have been implemented to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods, develop sustainable supply chains, and take advantage of the domestic consumption power of more than 100 million people... This is also a favorable environment for OCOP to expand and develop further.

THANH TRA-VIET HA

Source: https://nhandan.vn/suc-song-manh-me-tu-chuong-trinh-moi-xa-mot-san-pham-ocop-post916052.html